THERE was a large-scale emergency services response when a blaze broke out in a Wellington block of flats on one of the hottest days of the year on Tuesday (July 14).

Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes in Holyoake Street shortly after 11 am as four fire engines and police were called to the scene.

Residents were evacuated from their homes when a blaze broke out in a block of flats in Holyoake Street, Wellington, on Tuesday.
Residents were evacuated from their homes when a blaze broke out in a block of flats in Holyoake Street, Wellington, on Tuesday. (Tindle News)

An upstairs flat was believed to have been set alight when an electric fan was left on while the owner was at work.

Emergency services said nobody was injured but the flat was badly smokelogged.

Police and fire crews were attending a blaze in a block of flats in Holyoake Street, Wellington, on Tuesday.
Police and fire crews were attending a blaze in a block of flats in Holyoake Street, Wellington, on Tuesday. (Tindle News)

Neighbours were left to stand in the street in the baking hot weather as fire crews used breathing apparatus and hose reel, attack, and safety jets to tackle the flames.

Smoke billowing from the building could be seen from neighbouring streets until the fire was extinguished.

  • This is a developing story and will be updated as the Wellington Weekly learns more.

Firefighters don breathing apparatus to tackle a fire in a block of flats in Wellington on Tuesday.
Firefighters don breathing apparatus to tackle a fire in a block of flats in Wellington on Tuesday. (Tindle News)